JERUSALEM ARRIVES IN L.A.
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 May 2023
Filipino WBO minimumweight world champion Melvin 'Gringo' Jerusalem landed at the Tom Bradley International Airport in Los Angeles via Philippine Airlines Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila) ahead of his first world title defense against Puerto Rican challenger Oscar Collazo on May 27 at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
Jerusalem was accompanied by his trainer Michael Domingo and Sanman/Zip stablemate Kevin Jake Cataraja. He was met at LAX by boxing supporters Christopher Arias, Albert Casas and Philboxing photographer Jhay Otamias.
Jerusalem (20-2-0, 12KOs) will be fighting for the first time in the US and will have experience advantage over Collazo (6-0-0, 4KOs) who turned pro only in 2020. Collazo however has a stellar amateur experience and won the gold medal in the 2019 Pan American Games.
Collazo has been pushed aggressively by his promoters Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions believing that the pint-sized Puerto Rican will be a future star. Former Filipino world champion Vic Salurdar was one of his victims in his young pro career. He defeated Mexican contender Yudel Reyes, then 15-1, in his last fight to get a shot at Jerusalem.
Jerusalem won the WBO belt by knocking out Masataka Taniguchi in the second round on Jan. 6, 2023 in Osaka, Japan. He previously challenged then WBC champion Wanheng Meenayothin of Thailand in 2017 and lost by a very close decision.
L-R: Kevin Jake Cataraja, Jerusalem, Christopher Arias, Albert Casas and Michael Domingo at LAX on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 upon Team Jerusalem's arrival from Manila. Photo by Jhay Otamias.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 JANUARY 2026: Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa End in No Contest; Raul Curiel Outpoints Jordan Panthen
By Eric Armit, Mon, 19 Jan 2026Ryan Daye ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Mon, 19 Jan 2026RAUL “EL CUGÁR” CURIEL CRUISES TO UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER JORDAN “THE PATRIOT” PANTHEN
Sat, 17 Jan 2026Weights from Philadelphia
Sat, 17 Jan 2026Mexico Commemorates 12th Death Anniversary of Don Jose Sulaiman (Photos)
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 17 Jan 2026MOLLY McCANN EYES 'HUGE' STATEMENT START TO 2026 AS SHE JOINS BUMPER WOOD-WARINGTON CARD IN NOTTINGHAM ON FEBRUARY 21
Sat, 17 Jan 2026NEW MAIN EVENT ANNOUNCED! RAUL CURIEL SCHEDULED TO FACE JORDAN PANTHEN IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SCRAP
Fri, 16 Jan 2026SMALLS VS RAMOS TOPS STACKED UNDERCARD FOR NAVARRETE-NUNEZ BLOCKBUSTER IN GLENDALE
Fri, 16 Jan 2026Usyk Linked to Zuffa Boxing Deal as Questions Loom Over Title Defenses
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 16 Jan 2026Abass Baraou: "No One Has Been Able to Withstand My Pressure!"
Fri, 16 Jan 2026Wise Owl Boxing Signs Rising Female Star Chantel “Chicanita” Navarro
Fri, 16 Jan 2026Mauricio Sulaiman: WBC wants to protect fighters' dream of becoming a world champion
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 15 Jan 2026Xander Zayas: "It's Time to Make History!"
Thu, 15 Jan 2026Weights from Trenton, NJ
Thu, 15 Jan 2026Pro Boxer and Recent Grad Returns for Fight Night on the Farm — Celebrating Stanford’s Boxing Community
Thu, 15 Jan 2026